Language (English & Second Foreign Language) Course Regulations Q&A

Last Updated: 2025/07/31

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Part 1: English Credit WAIVER (For Freshmen Admitted in the 114th Academic Year (2025) and Onward)

The key takeaway is that "Waiver" means you don't have to take the required English courses, but you must take other general education courses to meet your total graduation credit requirement.

• Q: Can I apply for credit exemption?
  • A: No. Students admitted from the 114th academic year onward can only apply for credit waiver, not exemption.
• Q: If I waive 2 or 4 English credits, can I graduate with fewer total credits?
  • A: No. You are excused from the English course, but you must take other general education courses to make up for the waived credits. Your total graduation credits remain the same.
• Q: Is there an expiration date for my English proficiency test scores?
  • A: No, as long as you provide an official score report. For the on-campus OOPT, use the official email or a printout from the testing system.
• Q: Can I use a test score that isn't on the university's approved list?
  • A: No. Only test types specified in the regulations are accepted.
• Q: What proof is needed for native English-speaking international students?
  • A: A valid passport. However, if your country has more than one official language, you must apply using either your educational background (high school in English) or a proficiency test score.
• Q: What proof is needed if I was educated in English?
  • A: A transcript or official document showing two things:
    1. A list of subjects taught in English (must be over 50% of all courses).
    2. The start and end dates of your study period.
• Q: Can I apply to waive just 2 credits if I'm eligible for 4?
  • A: Yes, this is an option for students who still wish to take some English courses. Otherwise, you should apply for the full 4 credits you are eligible for.
• Q: How many times can I apply for a waiver?
  • A: You can apply for a 2-credit waiver and a 4-credit waiver a maximum of one time each. You can waive 2 credits first and then apply again for the remaining credits later if you achieve a higher test score.
• Q: What if I miss the application deadline?
  • A: Late applications are not accepted. You must apply during the designated period each semester (from the start of the semester until the end of the third stage of course selection).
• Q: Is the waiver application only open to freshmen?
  • A: No. You can apply during any semester before you graduate.
• Q: Does placement into Module 2 or 3 automatically waive my English credits?
  • A: This is false. You must still go through the formal application process to have your credits waived, even if your placement test scores are high.
• Q: Can I use scores from an OOPT (Oxford Online Placement Test) that I took externally?
  • A: No. To ensure fairness, only scores from the OOPT administered by NCKU are accepted.
• Q: For TOEIC, do I need scores for all four skills (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing)?
  • A: No. You can apply with either:
    1. Your TOEIC Listening & Reading score, OR
    2. Your TOEIC Speaking & Writing scores (you must have scores for both speaking and writing).

Part 2: English Credit EXEMPTION (For Students Admitted in or Before the 113th Academic Year (2024) and Transfer Students in the 114th Year)

The key takeaway is that "Exemption" means you don't have to take the required English courses, and these credits are deducted from your total graduation requirements.

• Q: If I exempt 2 or 4 English credits, can I graduate with fewer total credits?
  • A: Yes. Exempted credits are subtracted from your graduation total. For example, if you need 128 credits to graduate and you exempt 4, you will only need to complete 124 credits.
• Q: Is there an expiration date for my English proficiency test scores?
  • A: No, as long as you provide an official score report. For the on-campus OOPT, use the official email or a printout from the testing system.
• Q: Can I use a test score that isn't on the university's approved list?
  • A: No. Only test types specified in the regulations are accepted.
• Q: What proof is needed for native English-speaking international students?
  • A: A valid passport. However, if your country has more than one official language, you must apply using either your educational background (high school in English) or a proficiency test score.
• Q: Can I apply to exempt just 2 credits if I'm eligible for 4?
  • A: Yes, this is an option for students who still wish to take some English courses. Otherwise, you should apply for the full 4 credits you are eligible for.
• Q: How many times can I apply for an exemption?
  • A: You can apply for a 2-credit exemption and a 4-credit exemption a maximum of one time each.
• Q: What if I miss the application deadline?
  • A: Late applications are not accepted. You must apply during the designated period each semester.
• Q: Is the exemption application only open to freshmen?
  • A: No. You can apply during any semester before you graduate.
• Q: Does placement into Module 2 or 3 automatically exempt my English credits?
  • A: This is false. You must still go through the formal application process to have your credits exempted.

Part 3: Old System Exemption FAQ (For Students Admitted Before the 103rd Academic Year (2014))

• Q: Can I still use the old exemption requirements?
  • A: No. As of the 104th academic year, all students must follow the new system's requirements.
• Q: Are my previously approved "Freshman English" or "Sophomore English" exemptions still valid?
  • A: Yes. Any exemptions granted under the old system are still recognized.
• Q: If I was already granted a full 4-credit exemption under the old system, do I need to re-apply?
  • A: No. Your status is secure.
• Q: If I only exempted 2 credits under the old system, can I apply for more under the new system?
  • A: Yes. You can apply for a 2-credit or 4-credit exemption based on the new criteria.

Part 4: General English Course Regulations (Course Selection and Credits)

• Q: Do I have to complete all 4 required English credits in my freshman year?
  • A: No. You simply need to complete all 4 credits before you graduate.
• Q: Is it mandatory to register for an English "Module"? How do I choose courses?
  • A: Yes, module registration is required before you can select courses. Once registered in a module, you must complete two different courses from that module to earn your 4 credits. Undergraduates (Years 1-3) and Master's students may only take one English course per semester.
• Q: Why does the course selection system say, "No English Level, Cannot Register for English Courses"?
  • A: This means you are not yet registered in a module. To register, you must bring an official English proficiency test certificate (e.g., IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL) and your student ID to the Foreign Language Center (FLC) during weeks 5-16 of the semester. This will allow you to select courses for the following semester.
• Q: Can I change my English module?
  • A: Yes, but you can only move to a higher module. You must provide a new, qualifying test score. You are not permitted to move to a lower module. This can be done at the FLC during weeks 5-16 of the semester.
• Q: What should I do if I select a course with the same name as one I've already taken?
  • A: You must drop the course yourself. Credits will not be awarded twice for courses with the same name (unless you are officially retaking a failed course).
• Q: After finishing my 4 required credits, can I take more English courses?
  • A: Yes, but you are limited to one extra course per semester. Be aware that these additional credits will not count toward your total graduation credits, but the grade will be included in your semester GPA.
• Q: Can extra English credits be converted into General Education credits?
  • A: Courses from the A1 Module cannot be converted. For all other inquiries, please contact the General Education Center.
• Q: Can I get an authorization code (加簽) for a full English class?
  • A: No. Authorization codes are not issued for classes that have already reached their capacity.
• Q: I'm a senior who hasn't completed the 4 required credits. Can I take two courses (4 credits) in one semester?
  • A: Only if you are in your final semester (Spring semester of your senior year). Otherwise, you must take one course in the Fall and the second in the Spring.
• Q: As a senior, can I take a required English course and a "Remedial English" course at the same time?
  • A: No. You must first complete the 4 required English credits before you are eligible to take the Remedial English course.
• Q: I'm in my final semester and worried about passing the graduation proficiency requirement. What are my options?
  • A: You must first complete your remaining required English credits. If you still cannot pass a proficiency test to meet the graduation requirement, you may then take the "Remedial English" course during the summer session.
• Q: Do placement test scores from Module 2 or 3 automatically waive/exempt my English credits?
  • A: This is false! Module placement does not automatically grant a waiver or exemption. You must formally apply through the official process if your scores meet the threshold.

Part 5: Second Foreign Language Regulations

• Q: Can I take a second foreign language instead of the required English courses?
  • A: No. English is mandatory.
• Q: Can freshmen take second foreign language courses?
  • A: Yes. If a class is full, you may ask the instructor for an authorization code (加簽) once the semester begins. Each class has a limit of 5 authorization codes.
• Q: Can second foreign language credits be used as other elective credits?
  • A: To count them as a departmental elective, please ask your department office. To count them as a humanities cross-disciplinary general education credit, please ask the General Education Center.
• Q: How many second foreign language courses can I take per semester?
  • A: A maximum of two. The online system will only allow you to register for one. To take a second, you must get an authorization code directly from the instructor of the second course.
• Q: Can I take an advanced course (e.g., Japanese V) before a lower-level one (e.g., Japanese III)?
  • A: While the system doesn't prevent this, we strongly encourage students to learn progressively, level by level.
• Q: Can I take two different levels of the same language in the same semester (e.g., Japanese III and Japanese V)?
  • A: No. You are limited to one level per language each semester.
• Q: Can I retake a second foreign language course that I have already passed?
  • A: Yes, but you must sign a waiver at the Foreign Language Center. This form states you understand the credits for the repeated course will not count toward graduation and that you are responsible for any resulting credit deficiencies.

Part 6: English Proficiency Placement Test (Module Assignment)

• Q: What is the purpose of the English Proficiency Placement Test?
  • A: The university uses a "module" system to place students into English courses appropriate for their skill level. The placement test is used to assign you to a module. You must have a module assignment before you can select an English course.
• Q: Who does not need to take the placement test?
  • A: Students who are eligible to exempt all 4 English credits, including:
    1. Students from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature.
    2. Returning, exchange, or transfer students.
    3. Students who already possess an official English test certificate with a CEFR level (e.g., TOEIC, GEPT, TOEFL, IELTS).
• Q: I missed the placement test as a freshman. Can I take it later?
  • A: No. The placement test is a one-time opportunity offered only to freshmen before the start of their first semester.
• Q: What should I do if I missed the placement test and have no other English test certificate?
  • A: You must take an external English proficiency test on your own. Once you receive your score, bring the official certificate to the Foreign Language Center to register for a module. You will then be able to select English courses for the following semester.
• Q: I uploaded my English test certificate but wasn't assigned to a module. Why?
  • A: You likely uploaded your certificate to the wrong system. Please ensure you uploaded it to the "English Proficiency Placement System," not the "Foreign Language Proficiency and Achievement Verification System." These are two separate systems for different purposes, and their data is not shared. If you made this mistake, we cannot correct it for the current semester. You must bring your official certificate to the Foreign Language Center in person during weeks 5-16 to be assigned a module for the next semester.
• Q: I didn't take the freshman placement test. Can I sign up for it as a sophomore?
  • A: No. For what to do if you don't have a module, please refer back to Q3 in the "General English Course Regulations" section.
• Q: I heard that Module 1 courses are the easiest. Is this true?
  • A: This is false. While Module 1 is designed for students with a foundational English level, the courses are intensive and involve a significant amount of practice, homework, and tests. They require no less time or effort than courses in Modules 2 or 3.
• Q: I can't find or have lost the email with my placement test score. How can I retrieve it?
  • A: Please email the Foreign Language Center at nckueagle@gmail.com. Use the subject line "OOPT Score Inquiry" and include your full name, department, year of admission, and student ID number in the email.
• Q: For the 110 and 111 academic years, placement was based on national exam scores due to COVID-19. Can a student admitted in one year use the standards from another year?
  • A: No. The module placement standards are specific to each academic year of admission. You must adhere to the standards that were in effect for your specific year of entry.

Part 7: Graduation Proficiency Requirement (Fulfilling the Foreign Language Requirement for Graduation)

• Q: How do I find out the specific tests and scores required for the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement?
  • A: These requirements vary by department. Please inquire directly with your department's office for the specific standards you need to meet.
• Q: How do I get my proficiency requirement certified after passing a test?
  • A: The process is entirely online; no paper documents are needed. Upload the electronic file of your official score report to the "Foreign Language Proficiency and Achievement Verification System." After you submit, your department (not the Foreign Language Center) will review the application. Once approved, you have met the requirement.
• Q: Is there a deadline to apply for certification?
  • A: No, you can apply any time before you graduate.
• Q: I have passed the online "Remedial English" course. Do I still need to upload anything to the system to certify my graduation requirement?
  • A: No. Successfully completing this course automatically fulfills the requirement.
• Q: Does the Foreign Language Center (FLC) need to review my English graduation requirement test score?
  • A: No. You must upload your score to the "Foreign Language Proficiency and Achievement Verification System" at https://eagle.english.ncku.edu.tw/. After uploading, please notify your department office to conduct the review, not the Foreign Language Center.